Pardons Canada – If you have a Pardon, be careful when crossing the US Border

We help Canadians each day to obtain Canada Pardons in order to clear up old criminal charges so that they will be safe for work and travel purposes.

Below is a real life experience of someone crossing the border with a Canada Pardon but still ran into issues at the US Border:

“A short time ago my boyfriend and I were trying to enter the US for a day of shopping. The Border partrol officer asked us if either of us had been to court before. He replied honestly and said yes he had. Upon a couple more questions we were asked to come inside their office for a few more questions.”

“He had received his pardon quite a few years ago in Canada. The officer told us that they could not find anything or any record of his charge.”

“We were still refused entry that day but told to bring up all of his court record plus his pardon to their office for review. Two days later we returned to their office with his pardon. He went to our Court records office in Canada to get copies to bring to the officer but was told that once a pardon has been issued they do not issue any court papers. The customs officer would accept his pardon papers.”

“The customs officer would not accept his pardon papers and still refused us entry to the States. My boyfriend asked the officer “Should I just had lied and said no that I had not been to court?” The response was a shrug of his shoulders and head – more or less informally saying yes to us.”

“We did not know that we should had answered no to their the original questions and that his pardon would have removed everything from his record so they could not locate any record on his file.”

“Now he is not allowed to enter the US without paying over $500 for the application process. Is there anything else that we can do to get through this process. Neither he or I have that extra money. Is this just one officer being a little over zealous with us?”

“Any information that you could give us or help would be greatly appreciated.”

If you have any questions regarding this topic or about Pardons and US Entry Waivers email us at info@pardons.org or call 1-877-929-6011 or 416-929-6011.

Author: Pardons Canada

Pardons Canada is a national non-profit organization which assists individuals in removing a past criminal offence from public record. We undertakes all necessary steps and procedures for removing your criminal record, including: Pardons/Record Suspensions, Purges, Photograph & Fingerprint Destruction, and U.S. Entry Waivers.

I was told by an American customs officer, after owning up to a conviction, that I was lucky he was letting me in, and that our agents deny Americans with DUI convictions all the time. I was not guilty but plead guilty in a plea bargain. They fail to mention how your life afterward will be forever affected. That would just complicate the “deal”. Beware of the so-called Justice system. Never trust a cop. And if you need duty council let me save you the trouble. Here is their brilliant advice,”wear a tie, have a job, plead guilty.”